{"title":"Lions Bay building permits: when you need one and how to apply","question":"Do I need a building permit in Lions Bay, and how do I apply?","slug":"building-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Lions Bay","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lions Bay you need a Village building permit before you build, repair or alter a building or structure, move or demolish one, or install a wood-burning appliance. Get the application form from the Village Office or the Village's Forms & Applications page and submit it with plans.","aliases":["building permit lions bay","do i need a permit lions bay","apply for building permit lions bay","lions bay building services"],"cost":"A $150 application processing fee plus a permit fee based on the value of the work. See the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time. An application expires 180 days after it is complete if no permit has been issued, unless the delay was the Village's.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"400 Centre Road, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0","note":"Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"604-921-9333 ext. 1009"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services","value":"building@lionsbay.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Forms & Applications, Village of Lions Bay","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/administration/forms-applications"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Lions Bay building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Lions Bay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Lions Bay fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Lions Bay secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lions Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/building-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit/"},"facts":{"needed_for":{"label":"Needed for","value":"A permit is needed before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure (including a retaining wall or pool structure), moving or demolishing one, occupying a new building, building a masonry fireplace or installing a wood-burning appliance, or changing a building's use or occupancy. The Village adds: new construction, additions, finishing a basement, decks, gazebos, pools.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 7.1","quotes":["constructing, repairing, or altering a building or structure, including a retaining wall","moving a building or structure into or within the Village;","demolishing a building or structure;","constructing a masonry fireplace or installing a wood-burning appliance or","changing the use or occupancy of a building,"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"intro","quotes":["Building permits are required for all new construction, temporary buildings and for alterations to existing construction.","Building a deck or gazebo","Construction of a swimming pool"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_needed_for":{"label":"Not needed for","value":"The Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence (except retaining walls), an accessory building under 10 m², a trellis, an arbour, or a wall supporting soil under 1.22 m high on a single-family residential parcel. Work that needs no permit must still follow bylaws and the BC Building Code.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 3.3","quotes":["except as set out in Part 11: of this bylaw, a fence;","an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;","a trellis, an arbour, a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height,","or other similar landscape structures on a parcel zoned for single-family residential"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"Note","quotes":["Work that does not require a permit, must comply with Municipal Bylaws and the BC Building Code."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"},"sources_differ":"Conflict: the Village's Building Permits page says a retaining wall over 1.2 m 'requires a professional engineering design but no permit required'. Bylaw s. 11.1 says no one may construct or structurally repair a retaining wall without a building permit (with the s. 3.3(c) exemption for walls under 1.22 m). The bylaw is followed."},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Get the Building Permit Application Form from the Village Office or the Village's Forms & Applications page, and submit it with plans and supporting documents. The permit must be issued before work starts. The Village takes cash, cheque or debit in person, no credit cards.","short":"Paper form from Village Office with plans","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","section":"How to Obtain a Permit","quotes":["The permit must be obtained before commencing work on the project.","Permit forms can be obtained through the Village Office or online."]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/administration/forms-applications","title":"Forms & Applications, Village of Lions Bay","section":"intro","quotes":["The Village does not accept credit cards."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"what_to_submit":{"label":"What to submit","value":"A simple-building application needs: the signed application form, the owner's acknowledgement and undertaking (Appendix A), a title search made within 30 days, a BC land surveyor's survey plan (may be waived), and a site plan. Complex buildings also need a code compliance summary and drawings by registered professionals.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 10.2, 10.4","quotes":["be accompanied by the owner’s acknowledgment of responsibility and","include a copy of a title search for the relevant property made within 30 days of","include a copy of a survey plan prepared by a British Columbia land surveyor","include a building code compliance summary including the applicable edition of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"processing_time":{"label":"Processing time","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The official pages do not state this detail.","sources":[]},"inspections":{"label":"Inspections","value":"Inspections must be scheduled in advance: call Building Services at (604) 921-9333 in office hours, leave a voice message after hours, or use the online request form. The Building Bylaw requires at least two days' notice to the building official.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/scheduling-inspection","title":"Scheduling an Inspection, Village of Lions Bay","section":"intro","quotes":["Building inspections must be scheduled in advance.","contact Building Services at (604) 921-9333 during normal office hours."]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 10.29","quotes":["Every owner or constructor shall give at least two days’ notice to the building official to"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"contact":{"label":"Contact","value":"Building Services: building@lionsbay.ca, (604) 921-9333 ext. 1009. Village Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/contact/building-services","title":"Building Services contact, Village of Lions Bay","section":"Building Services","quotes":["Phone number: (604) 921-9333 ext. 1009","Email address: building@lionsbay.ca"]},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/corporate-services/village-office","title":"Village Office | The Village of Lions Bay","section":"Village Office","quotes":["The office is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Village of Lions Bay checks your plans against the BC Building Code, the zoning rules and its [Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf), then inspects the work. The permit must be issued before work starts.\n\nA permit is needed to construct, repair or alter a building or structure (including a retaining wall or pool structure), move or demolish one, occupy a new building, build a masonry fireplace or install a wood-burning appliance, or change a building's use. The Village lists new construction, additions, finishing a basement, decks, gazebos and pools. If your site is in a development permit area under the Official Community Plan, a development permit is needed first.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Talk to Building Services before you start to confirm what your project needs.\n2. Get the Building Permit Application Form from the Village Office or the Forms & Applications page.\n3. Submit it with plans and supporting documents. For a simple building this means the signed form, the owner's acknowledgement and undertaking, a title search made within 30 days, a survey plan by a BC land surveyor (it may be waived) and a site plan. Complex buildings also need a code compliance summary and drawings by registered professionals.\n4. Pay the fees at the Village Office by cash, cheque or debit. Credit cards are not accepted.\n5. Book inspections as work progresses.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Not covered by the Building Bylaw: a fence (except a retaining wall), an accessory building under 10 m², a trellis, an arbour, or a wall holding back soil under 1.22 m high on a single-family parcel. Work that needs no permit must still follow bylaws and the BC Building Code.\n- Inspections: call 604-921-9333 in office hours, leave a voice message after hours, or use the online request form. The bylaw requires at least two days' notice.\n- An agent needs the Agent Authorization Form to act for the owner.\n- The Village's page calls for a permit on retaining walls over 1.2 m differently from the bylaw (see above). Confirm with Building Services.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/administration/forms-applications","title":"Forms & Applications, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/building-services/scheduling-inspection","title":"Scheduling an Inspection, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/contact/building-services","title":"Building Services contact, Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-02/Bylaw%20649%20-%20Building%20Bylaw%202026.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 649, 2026 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/corporate-services/village-office","title":"Village Office | The Village of Lions Bay","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/building-permit.json"}}